PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (WFLA) — 8 On Your Side is getting answers about debris dump sites in the middle of neighborhoods, and in front of some homes.
Edward Quast called 8 On Your Side about the growing dump site outside his home on 61st Street North in Pinellas Park. It rained Wednesday night, possibly easing some of his concerns.
“I’m more worried about a fire than anything,” Quast said. “It isn’t very far from my front door so that’s what scares me a lot.”
There’s been two fires at two debris sites in Pinellas County in recent weeks. Quast doesn’t want this one to be next, but said he understands the debris has to go somewhere.
“It’s a bad situation for everybody, but right now it’s scary for me to go to sleep. I worry about it so much because nobody is watching it,” Quast said. “It’s just getting kind of, a little tough to breathe.”
8 On Your Side sent questions to both the City of Pinellas Park and Pinellas County about the debris sites. Here is the exchange with Pinellas Park.
Q: The goal to remove debris in 90 days, is that to have the debris removed from in front of people’s houses, collected at the sites, or removed out of the county completely?
A: The Governor’s order gives 90 days to get debris collected, removed and disposed of in order to be reimbursed at 100%.
Q: What is a realistic timeline for the debris sites to be cleared? (Site at 61st Street North)
A: The debris at 61st Street belongs to South Pasadena and Madeira Beach — please reach out to them for this information.
Q: How did the country decide where these debris sites should be located? What factors contributed to the decision?
A: Pinellas County typically assists the smaller cities and beach communities with debris management sites. Due to two back-to-back hurricanes the county did not offer this as an option. As a courtesy, the City of Pinellas Park volunteered to help our neighboring communities in this time of emergency with available space for debris.
Q: Did the city consider the health concerns associated with large debris sites sitting across from people’s homes?
A: Yes the city did consider this and is ensuring the other municipalities and their debris contractors are following FDEP guidelines.
Q: Is there a limit to how high the debris can be stacked at the site?
A: There are height guidelines for mulch piles only.
Q: We’re hearing the debris site at 61st hasn’t had any trucks to come remove the debris yet. Can you confirm this?
A: I cannot confirm this, please contact South Pasadena and Madeira Beach for this information.
Q: How often are trucks supposed to come to the sites to remove the debris?
A: Please contact South Pasadena and Madeira Beach for this information.
Q: Why can’t the debris be taken directly to where it will end up – as opposed to it being taken to these various sites first?
A: These sites are utilized to separate debris in accordance to FDEP and FEMA guidelines. You may want to reach out to these agencies for more information.
Q: Can anyone be assigned to monitor the sites out of concerns for fires?
A: Our fire department and police department are aware the site was activated and they monitor it accordingly. The City is also actively managing the site to ensure compliance – we have asked our municipal partners and their contractors to provide around the clock water trucks onsite and sweep the surrounding road for dust mitigation control. They will also be establishing an egress/ingress plan for the site using suitable materials to keep track out down. We will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard the area.
8 On Your Side reached out to South Pasadena City officials Wednesday evening and are waiting for a response.
Justin Smith was picking up his daughter from a nearby day care. He said he wishes the site was somewhere a bit more secluded.
“Ideally if we could just get a better system for all the trucks going straight to waste management, you know where it’s burned there would be a lot better than the massive sites all over the city,” Smith said.
The site at 61st Street North is not a county debris drop-off site. The County said they will know more about the time needed to clear the debris sites as we approach the 90-day timeframe.
Here is their statement to 8 On Your Side:
“The 61st Street North in Pinellas Park is not a County debris drop-off site. Pinellas County’s goal is to have all debris removed from unincorporated residential properties within the 90-day timeframe set by the State. We will know more about the time needed to clear the debris sites as we approach the deadline. Pinellas County’s contractor is not processing construction & demolition debris or appliances on-site in Pinellas County, only compacting for haul out. The compacted debris is being sent to authorized, receiving processing facilities across the state. The contractor will reduce the vegetative debris by chipping and grinding before hauling it to an authorized receiving site but will have dust control measures in place. In addition, each of the sites are regularly inspected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Pinellas County selected its debris management sites based on usable space available, proximity to the most affected areas and for the health and safety of the surrounding community. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) oversees the authorization of the debris management sites and ensures all sites are in compliance with guidance documents. Pinellas County’s debris management sites are not located in residential neighborhoods, have appropriate buffer zones from water bodies and potable water wells, and are not areas of historical or archaeological significance. Each of the five sites had soil samples taken prior to use and will be tested again after debris operations are completed to see if any remediation is needed. Each location uses water trucks as needed to reduce the amount of dust in the air. Collection teams visually inspect the debris at curbside before collection to ensure hazardous materials like asbestos or electronics do not contaminate the loads. Pinellas County is NOT collecting hazardous waste as part of storm collections.”